or are they being more clear eyed in the assessment of it? >> they're being more clear eyed, jim. some private grumbling about jim lehrer. you're hearing some people say with the halperin quote you said, kind of downplaying the significance of this thing. most people made up their minds. you're hearing what mike mentioned a few minutes ago, people saying yeah, romney did well stylelisticly but not substantively. i can tell you on the republican side i'm sensing real confidence. the republicans are the first people to get in the spin room. they came pouring in with their placards during the closing statements. obama people came a couple minutes later much more aggressive. i've been trying not to just talk to romney campaigners and republicans not closely associated with romney campaign people like al cardenas, chairman of the american conservative union, rudy giuliani, not always a mitt romney fan. they're all telling me they really think the dynamic of the race shifted a little bit. we'll see how much. the spirit is high among republicans and it seems relatively authentic. >> james writes a pr
